Communist Party of India (CPI) MP P. Santhosh on Saturday, 31 October sharply criticised Union Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks on Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of selectively appropriating historical figures and attempting to claim the former Deputy Prime Minister as ideological kin. Santhosh maintained that Patel was a lifelong Congressman and that internal differences within the Indian National Congress (INC) have no bearing on the BJP's political legacy.

What the CPI MP Said

Santhosh pointed to Patel's prominent role in the Jawaharlal Nehru-led Cabinet as evidence of his Congress identity. 'Sardar Patel was a renowned minister in the Nehru Cabinet, and who was behind it? Was he a BJP nominee? Was he a Sangh Parivar nominee? More importantly, Sardar Patel did a fantastic job by banning the RSS soon after Mahatma Gandhi's assassination,' the CPI MP said.

He went further, alleging that the BJP and its ideological affiliates were on a pattern of selectively co-opting national leaders. 'How can Amit Shah justify portraying Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in that way? These people are so desperate because they cannot find anything in history,' Santhosh said. He alleged that the BJP and the Sangh Parivar had no part in India's independence movement, and had therefore adopted what he described as a 'pick-and-choose policy' while invoking national leaders.

Patel's Congress Identity, Says CPI

Santhosh was emphatic that Patel's differences with other Congress leaders remain an internal party matter. 'Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was a Congressman. Of course, there may be differences of opinion within a party, but that has nothing to do with the BJP. Patel was right in banning the RSS,' he said. He added that no ideological claim by the BJP could override the historical record.

What Amit Shah Said at the Ekta Run

The remarks by Santhosh came in direct response to Home Minister Amit Shah's speech at the 'Ekta Run' event organised in New Delhi on the occasion of the 151st birth anniversary of Sardar Patel. Addressing the gathering, Shah said: 'For many years, India did not accord Sardar Patel the respect he deserved. The Congress party consistently attempted to sideline and forget Sardar Sahab, but a radiant personality like his can never be erased from the nation's memory.'

Shah also credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi with restoring Patel's legacy, pointing to the construction of the Statue of Unity — described as the world's tallest statue — during Modi's tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat. 'Through this monumental tribute, Prime Minister Modi introduced Sardar Patel's towering contribution and remarkable personality to the entire nation,' Shah added.

The Broader Political Context

This exchange is the latest episode in a long-running contest between the BJP and the Congress over the legacy of India's founding leaders. The BJP has consistently sought to position Patel — celebrated for integrating the princely states — as an underappreciated leader who was overshadowed by Nehru during the Congress era. Critics, including opposition parties, argue that this framing is historically selective and politically motivated. Notably, the 151st birth anniversary of Patel, observed on 31 October, is also designated as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) by the Centre — a designation introduced by the Modi government in 2014. The anniversary has become an annual flashpoint for competing historical claims.

With both major national parties investing heavily in the symbolism of India's founding generation, battles over Patel's legacy are unlikely to subside ahead of state and national electoral cycles.